Ahead of Mike Pence’s photo op in Belgrade today, Democratic National Committee spokesperson John Weber released the following statement:

“While more than six and a half million Americans have been diagnosed with COVID-19 and working families across the country struggle under a cratering economy, Mike Pence is parachuting into Belgrade for a campaign stop. But, he can’t spin reality with a photo op — he can’t spin this disastrous spectacle of a trip, he can’t spin his boss’ three and a half years of broken promises, and he can’t spin this administration’s continued failure to handle the pandemic.”

BACKGROUND ON PENCE’S CANCELED FUNDRAISER WITH QANON SUPPORTERS

Associated Press: Pence to attend event hosted by QAnon backers. “Vice President Mike Pence and top officials from President Donald Trump’s campaign are slated to attend a Montana fundraiser next week hosted by a couple who have expressed support for the QAnon conspiracy theory … QAnon is a wide-ranging conspiracy fiction spread largely through the internet, centered on the baseless belief that Trump is waging a secret campaign against enemies in the ‘deep state’ and a child sex trafficking ring run by satanic pedophiles and cannibals.”

CNN: Pence will no longer hold fundraiser with QAnon supporters. “Vice President Mike Pence will no longer attend a Montana fundraiser originally slated for next week, a Trump campaign official told CNN. The campaign attributed the switch to a schedule adjustment and did not address the controversial promotion of the QAnon conspiracy theory by fundraiser hosts Caryn and Michael Borland. The official would not say if the event would be rescheduled.”

Politico: Pence drops plan to go to fundraiser hosted by QAnon backers. “The Borlands have donated over $220,000 to Trump’s reelection bid, the bulk of which was made in Caryn Borland’s name, and they were guests at the national GOP convention last month.”